Oregon Earns C- in Education Report

Quality Counts 2010 is the 14th edition of Education Week's annual report card on American public education as measured by data on states' education policies and outcomes. Education Week is a publication for school adminstrators and educators. Whereas membership is required to view the contents of the site, the public has access until January 21, 2010. The Quality Counts report and other material can be seen at http://www.edweek.org/ew.

Grades were compiled for six areas of interest: Teaching Profession; Chance for Success; K-12 Achievement; School Finance; Standards, Assessments, & Accountability; Transitions & Alignment.

The Quality Counts 2010 report earns the most criticism from teachers unions in Oregon because of the data used to measure the policies and outcomes with regard to the Teaching Profession. This category score draws on 44 indicators used to assess key aspects of teacher policy, including measures of teacher quality, incentives for teachers, and recruitment and retention of a strong teaching workforce. The nation overall earned a C. Oregon and Alaska were the last in the nation, each failing in this area. Oregon scored an average of 56.3% distributed among three sections: Accountability for Quality (58.8%), Incentives & Allocation (50%), and Building & Supporting Capacity (60%).

Chance for Success was based on 13 indicators that show the impact of education in three phases of life [Early Foundations, School Years (K-12), and Adult Outcomes (College/Career)]. The nation earned a C- and Oregon earned a C (75.7%). Early education was the strongest of these individual scores at 80.9% (B-).

K-12 Achievement was low in Oregon with a D (64.5%). Status, Change, and Equity were all measured, each with a score in the sixties. Transitions & Alignment was better at an average of 78.6% (C+). Early Childhood Education (100%) stands in stark contrast to College Readiness (50%). Economy & Workforce measured at a respectable 87.5% (B+). Overall, the Oregon's score for this category was 78.6% (C+).

The Quality Counts report used 8 commonly used measures of equity and spending for scores in the School Finance area. The country earned a C with half of the states in the C+ to C- range. Oregon earned a B+ (87.8%) for equity policy but an F (56%) for spending.

Standards, Assessments, & Accountability was at peak performance for the nation at a solid B. A C+ in Standards, C+ in Assessment, and B- in School Accountability earned Oregon an average of 79% (C+). With most of the states in the country signed up to work toward national content standards, it is really interesting to view the comparison map for states on this issue.

A full Quality Counts 2010 report and interactive state report cards can be found at www.edweek.org/go/gc10. State highlights (showing the information included above)can be viewed at www.edweek.org/go/gc10/shr. A live webinar will be held on the Education Week site on January 19th at 2pm EST and a live online chat with leading policy experts at 3pm EST on January 26, 2010.